Attorney General says “No Dice” to T-Mobile’s deceptive “No-Contract” advertising

[DainBramaged]

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has entered into a court-ordered agreement with T-Mobile to correct alleged deceptive advertising that promised consumers no annual contracts while carrying hidden charges for early termination of phone plans.

Today, the Attorney General's Office filed a court order signed by T-Mobile and effective nationwide that will ensure the company clearly communicates the limitations of its new “no-contract” wireless service plans and allows customers duped by the deceptive ads to exit their contracts with no penalty.

“As Attorney General, my job is to defend consumers, ensure truth in advertising, and make sure all businesses are playing by the rules,” Ferguson said. “My office identified that T-Mobile was failing to adequately disclose a critical component of their new plan to consumers, and we acted quickly to stop this practice and protect consumers across the country from harm.”

T-Mobile recently launched a new type of wireless service plan, claiming to offer “no restrictions,” “no annual contract” and no requirement that the consumer “serve a two-year sentence.” However, this new plan does not include a phone. Instead, the company provides the option for consumers to purchase a phone at a monthly rate over a two-year term. They also offer the opportunity to bring your own phone or pay the entire cost of the phone up front.

http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=31166#.UXpbmsqJv3F

[Drale]

1. T-Mobile is full of shit

My girlfriend is with them and her Galaxy Note 2 started having problems about 4 weeks ago. She waited a week to tell me about the problems, and I tried everything I knew how to do. So I called them and there was a problem with the transmitter, they said its not a common problem but it does happen, so they sent her out a new phone. The lady on the phone said it would be overnighted, but it was a Friday so we would get it on Monday. It didn't ship till Wednesday and we got it Thursday. So she was without a working phone for 3 weeks. She called yesterday to see if they could adjust her bill because she could use her phone for 3 weeks, but the lady she got was a b*tch to her and refused to do anything, so I called later that night and I got them to take 20 dollars off the bill because the guy would not budge over 20 dollars, I wanted 40 because that's half the bill and I thought that not have a phone for 3 weeks should warrant at least that. He claim 20 was the best he could do, so I'm gonna call back tonight and tell them that is unacceptable and to talk to their manage or who ever they need to but that it has to get done. They have us over a barrel though because she just signed the contract, so we can't threaten to leave for another carrier. Moral of the story, don't go with T-Mobile, they are terrible and their service isn't very good either.

[freshwest]

2. I let my T-mobile contract lapse years ago, bought phones elsewhere, they still honor the deal.

300 minutes a month weekdays, free calls all weekends, which had grown from $29 a month to $36 because of increased fees by state and federal over the last five years. It's fixed. I average a thousand minutes that way.

I only talk to them in their walk in stores. They offered me an upgrade when I said to block all texts coming in, but I refused and they continue to honor the plan I set up 5 years ago.

I had spam from RW groups soon after I started a Facebook account years ago, but never use the thing, so it stopped that from being charged. I had trouble getting signal last year, so I went into the store and they replaced the sim card. No worries.

I find that face to face gets better service, the people on the phone are being monitored on what they say and do. But the help want to make a good impression on the other customers waiting in line watching the transaction.

Sorry some people are having trouble. I told T-Mobile I can't afford more. They understood. Still using my old Motorola RAZR, but reduced the service I had 6 years ago.

It had internet and texting. I took pictures and made videos and sound recordings that I emailed to my computer to share. Told them I couldn't pay for it, said I'd get a Trac Phone if it went up. Just use it for long distsance phone calls, calls away from home and voicemail now.